POPRC-2 Highlights: Monday 6, November 2006

The second meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) opened today in Geneva, Switzerland.

Delegates addressed organizational issues and reviewed the outcomes of the second Conference of the Parties (COP-2) to the Stockholm Convention as they relate to the work of the Committee. They noted that COP-2 confirmed the membership of the Committee, approved the criteria for selecting experts, and requested the Committee to present recommendations on isomers to COP-3.

On operational issues, delegates discussed the treatment of isomers or groups of isomers, and transformation products. No agreement was reached on either of these matters. POPRC Chair Reiner Arndt (Germany) deferred deliberations until later in the week.

Delegates addressed draft risk profiles on perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and pentabromodiphenyl ether (PentaDBE). Chair Arndt established two contact groups to elaborate draft decisions on these chemicals.